Folding box.



PATENTBD SEPT. 25, 1906.

' H; B. DREW;

FOLDING B0X. APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

No. 831,712. PIJEBBITEDy SEPT. 25, 1906. H. B. DREW.

PULDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE mmm: Flr'iks Co. WAsHmaroN. D. x:A

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

p Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application tiled March 27, 1905. Serial No. 252.379.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY B. DREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kittery Depot, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Folding Box, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe present invention relates more particularly to folding lunch-boxes constructed of leatheroid or similar material, though not necessarily limited to this species.

One of the principal objects is to provide a simple box of the above character and of a novel structure which can be conveniently set up and when in this condition is strong and well braced, can be collapsed, and is then compactly folded into a small compass, yet having suflicient space therein to hold a bottle for coffee or other liquid refreshment, and, furthermore, can be manufactured at small cost and is durable, being so arranged and constructed that the folding of the parts will not crack or otherwise break the material of which the wall-bodies are formed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box when set up. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same when folded. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the box when folded, as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the box-body with the side walls swung outwardly into substantially the form of a blank.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated an oblong bottom 7 is provided, having upstanding marginal 'flanges S, upon which are swingingly mounted side walls 9 and 10, the walls 9 being substantially as wide as the length of the bottom and the side walls 10 corresponding to the width of said bottom. The hinge connections between the flanges S and the side walls are preferably strips of leather 1 1 or other flexible material, glued to the flanges and walls and also connected by lines of stitching 12. Thus the folding of the walls can be secured without bending the material of which said walls are formed, and consequently the cracking and breaking of such material is avoided.

Hinged to the upright or side margins of the walls 10 by means of strips of leather 13 or other flexible material are fle ps 14, that are adapted when the box is set up to overlap the side walls 9 and also overlap each other at their free margins and as illustrated in Fig. 4. The side walls 9 are provided with outstanding staples 15, and these staples are adapted to pass through openings 16, formed in the flaps 14. The overlapped portions are thus secured together by the staples, and these staples are maintained in the openings by the terminal portions 17 of a retainingstrap 1S, that passes beneath the bottom and is swiveled centrally thereto by a rivet or other fastener 19. A handle-strap 20 is provided at its ends with buckles 21, and these buckles are adapted to be connected to the ends of the terminal portions 17 of the retaining-strap.

A cover 22 is employed which is ada )ted to fit upon the open upper end of the oxbody, being provided with depending flanges 23, that engage over the upper margins of the side walls 9 and 10. The corners of the cover are reinforced by clips 24, and the lower corners of the body are also reinforced by similar clips 25. A partition-tray 26 may also be employed, said tray being adapted to lit within the body of the box, having slightly-offset margins 27, and being provided with finger-openings 28, whereby it may be readily grasped.

Vhen the box is set up, the flaps 14 are overlapped against the outer faces of the side walls 9 and engaged upon the staples. The strap is arranged transversely of and beneath the bottom and the terminal portions passed through said staples. The cover is then placed upon the box-body and the handle buckled to the ends of the stra., thus holding said cover in place. In co lapsing the body the said handle is detached, the cover removed, and the terminal portions of the strap withdrawn from the staples. The llaps are then folded against the walls 10, and said walls are folded inwardly inside the flange 8 of the bottom, after which the walls 9 are placed upon the walls 1() and the cover located thereover. The retaining-strap is then swung upon the pivot or rivet 19, so that it extends lengthwise of the body, is

assed over the ends of the folded box, and the handle secured thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The strap, which would otherwise be too long, is thus conveniently disposed of IOO the opposite ends of said strap. There is and is still employed for securing the cover Vin place. Moreover, it will be noted that because of the overlapping flanges 8 and 23 of the bottom and cover sufficient'space is afforded Within the folded box to receive a bottle for coee or Aother liquid. Thus it is to be seen that a simple structure is employed which can be compactlyfolded or conveniently set up, that is durable in that the hinge-joints are not formed of the material of the wallbodies, which, therefore, will not become cracked or broken. Furthermore, by employing a single strap secured in the manner shown when the box is being carried in the hand the strain is equally divided upon thus no lateral strain on the rivet, and consequently no danger of pulling the same from the bottom or tearing the material.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding box, the combination with an oblong bottom, of side Walls hinged to the different sides of the bottom, flaps hinged to the upright margins of the narrow side walls and overlapping the wider side Walls and each other, staples carried by the said'wider l side walls and detachably passing through the overlapped flaps, a retaining-strap arranged to pass through the staples when the box is set up, a .pivot connecting the strap between its ends to the central portion of the bottom, said pivot permitting the strap to be turned to allow the same to be passed transversely about the box when set up and lengtht wise about the box when folded, and a handle for suitably connecting the terminal portions of the strap when passed about the box in either direction.

2. In a folding box, the combination with an oblong bottom, of foldable side Walls carried thereby, certain of said walls having interlocking portions, a top for the box, a retaining-strap arranged to engage the interlocking portions to secure the walls in set-up condition, a pivot connection between an intermediate portion of the strap and an intermediate portion of said bottom, said pivot connection constituting a journal upon which the strap can be turned Without twisting, to allow its being passed about the box transversely thereof when said box isset up and lengthwise of said box when folded, and a handle having adjustable connections at its ends with both ends of the strap to secure said ends together and tightly clamp the strap about the box when said strap is passed around said box in either direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I' have hereto ahixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY B. DREW. l/Vtnesses G. F. PARKER, TRRssA DREW. 

